Our tongue-twisting headline is to announce a great new 33 track compilation of early BURT BACHARACH songs. Released on El Records, ‘Long Ago Last Summer’ covers the years 1959 – 61 when the King Of Cool was a jobbing songwriter at New York’s famed Brill Building. Working with people like PAUL HAMPTON, ROBERT COLBY, BOB HILLIARD, MACK DAVID and, of course, HAL DAVID, BURT turned out dozens of songs across all kinds of genres – easy-listening, pop, novelty, instrumental and embryonic soul. Soul folk need to check out great outings from THE SHIRELLES (‘Baby It’s You’), CHUCK JACKSON (‘The Breaking Point’), GLORIA LYNNE’S (‘You Don’t Have To Be A Tower Of Strength’ – a riposte to GENE McDANIELS’ ‘Tower Of Strength’) ), GENE McDANIELS himself (‘In Times Like These’ ) and THE WANDERERS (‘Somebody Else’s Sweetheart’ – once a big item on the Northern soul scene). The collection’s a must for BACHARACH fans and pop collectors. Find out more @ www.elrecords.co.uk
